Shadowing Practice: Received Pronunciation (RP) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Received Pronunciation”. This video has 20 sentences and 195 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:10. The speaker talks at a natural 167 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 78% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 5 of its 20 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| fortune noun | /ˈfɔːtjuːn/ | Destiny, especially favorable. |
| dynasty noun | /ˈdaɪnəsti/ | A series of rulers or dynasts from one family. |
| marry verb | /ˈmæɹi/ | To enter into the conjugal or connubial state; to take a husband or a wife. |
| worthy adjective | /ˈwɝ.ði/ | Having worth, merit, or value. |
| darling noun | /ˈdɑɹlɪŋ/ | Often used as an affectionate term of address: a person who is very dear to one. |
| stubborn adjective | /ˈstʌbɚn/ | Refusing to move or to change one's opinion; obstinate; firmly resisting; persistent in doing something. |
| strive verb | /ˈstɹaɪv/ | To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently. |
| custodian noun | /kəˈstoʊdiən/ | A person entrusted with the custody or care of something or someone; a caretaker or keeper. |
| impoverish verb | /ɪmˈpɒv(ə)ɹɪʃ/ | To make poor. |
| laboured adjective | /ˈleɪ.bɚd/ | Expressive of strenuous effort. |
| task noun | /tæsk/ | A piece of work done as part of one’s duties. |
| destroy verb | /dɪˈstɹɔɪ/ | To damage beyond use or repair; to damage (something) to the point that it effectively ceases to exist. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get out of verb | To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of. |
| stick up for verb | To speak or act in defence (of); to defend or protect. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 5 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'd, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like fortune, dynasty, marry.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.